Kate Berlant Brings Laughs To A “Weird, Precarious” Moment – Comedy Means Business Podcast

Kate Berlant says stand-up offers solace and a sense of community amid digital alienation, industry upheaval and the rise of AI copying comedians’ work. Her second special, *Parmesan*, turns the absurdities of modern life into comedy and marks a more straightforward hour of written material.

Berlant developed the show over two years, then filmed it at Los Angeles’ Plaza Nightclub after touring it in theatres, favouring the intimacy of smaller venues. She began stand-up at 17 and has built an unconventional career spanning alternative comedy, film and television; the interview also covers her early influences, work with John Early and setbacks in television development.